already
adv. 已經; 早已; (表驚奇)都
You use already to show that something has happened, or that something had happened before the moment you are referring to. Speakers of British English use already with a verb in a perfect tense, putting it after 'have', 'has', or 'had', or at the end of a clause. Some speakers of American English use already with the simple past tense of the verb instead of a perfect tense.
They had already voted for him at the first ballot...
在第一次投票選舉時,他們已經投票給他了。
The group has already shed 10,000 jobs...
該集團已經裁去1萬個工作崗位。
You use already to show that a situation exists at this present moment or that it exists at an earlier time than expected. You use already after the verb 'be' or an auxiliary verb, or before a verb if there is no auxiliary. When you want add emphasis, you can put already at the beginning of a sentence.
The authorities believe those security measures are already paying off...
當局相信那些安全措施已經奏效。
He was already rich...
他已經很富有了。
1. prior to a specified or implied time;
Production has already been put on the right track.
生產已經走上軌道.
The work is already complete inmanuscript.
著作已經脫稿.
There is already a high level of environmental contamination.
環境汙染的程度已經很高.
These commitments have already been breached.
這些承諾已遭背棄.
He already has three demerits on his record.
他已被記過三次.